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Abbotsford youths accused of 'sickening' goose attack identified

The nesting goose recently attacked by three Abbotsford teenagers in a shopping centre parkade has successfully hatched some of her eggs, and with the help of the mall's security team, made it safely with her goslings to Mill Lake. One of the young men involved has been fined $345 by conservation officers.

Photograph by: Rochelle Baker
, Abbotsford Times

Abbotsford police have identified the three youths who attacked a nesting goose, leaving it bloodied and injured last week.

As a result, a conservation officer contacted the three teenage boys, two aged 16 and one 17, and their parents, said Const. Ian MacDonald, who described the attack as sickening.

The main aggressor against the bird has been issued a $345 fine for molesting or injuring a bird, said a spokesman from B.C. Conservation Officer Service on Monday.

A security guard at the Sevenoaks Shopping Centre discovered the Canada goose - covered in blood but still sitting on her eggs - in the parkade on April 27, said MacDonald.

The guard immediately called Elizabeth's Wildlife Rescue Center and its members arrived shortly after to evaluate the animal.

The goose was still caring for its clutch of eggs, so the experts decided not to remove the animal for care.

Sevenoaks security called police early last week and provided APD with surveillance video of the incident Wednesday.

A preliminary viewing of the tape by the mall's security reportedly showed one youth hitting the goose with a long object while two or three others threw things at the creature who wouldn't abandon her nest, said MacDonald.

Elizabeth Melnick, who runs the wildlife rescue centre, said Monday the bird continued to care for her eggs despite her injuries, and Sunday afternoon yielded a happy ending.

Some of the four eggs in the nest hatched, and the mall's security team escorted the goose, her mate and their goslings by foot through traffic to Mill Lake, said Melnick.

The geese make up one of about seven nesting pairs that return each year to the parkade.

While the wildlife rescue center's volunteers regularly check up on the nests, the mall's security guards constantly monitor the well being of the geese, said Melnick.

"Those people are outstanding and have been just remarkable for those animals."

MacDonald said the APD got lots of outraged calls about the goose attack.

"The vast majority of individuals probably think this is a disgusting and disturbing attack, and want to see the people held accountable," he said.

But police were interested in finding those involved for reasons beyond the welfare of animals, he added.

"We are looking to identify these individuals because those inclined to injure animals often also engage in other acts police should be aware of."

The nesting goose recently attacked by three Abbotsford teenagers in a shopping centre parkade has successfully hatched some of her eggs, and with the help of the mall's security team, made it safely with her goslings to Mill Lake. One of the young men involved has been fined $345 by conservation officers.